UN ambassadors start talks on new Iran sanctions

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 6 (Reuters) UN ambassadors from major powers began negotiations on a resolution that would increase sanctions against Iran for its nuclear programme but agreement still remained elusive.

''The issue has moved to the Security Council,'' US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told reporters yesterday after a separate meeting he held with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. ''Discussions have started.'' The negotiations, at Britain's mission to the United Nations, moved to New York after senior foreign ministry officials consulted three times by telephone over the past week. Britain is expected to produce a draft text shortly.

On Saturday, the senior officials, including Burns, were unable to settle all of their differences. Diplomats said Russia and China still had problems with proposals from the United States, Britain, France and Germany.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters the six had ''elements'' on paper but no full text yet.

China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said there were still some differences to work through.

''I think that the basic idea is to expand and strengthen the sanctions regime but how far we will go, I think there are some differences among member states,'' Wang told reporters.

''So I think that we will compare notes to see where we stand. The idea is of course to work on a draft resolution which will take a few days,'' Wang added.

The United States and leading European countries suspect Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian atomic programme. Tehran denies the charge and says its programme is for generating electricity.

The new resolution is a follow-up to one adopted by the Security Council on December 23 that imposed trade sanctions on sensitive nuclear materials and technology and froze assets of key Iranians after Iran refused to suspend uranium enrichment.

The sanctions would be suspended if Iran complied and negotiated on an incentive package.

POLITICAL OUTCOME Churkin said Russia wanted a political outcome to the Iran dispute. ''But unfortunately the Iranian side has not complied with the previous resolution so we have to discuss another resolution before negotiations (with Tehran) can start,'' he said.

Burns said that while the United States would prefer negotiations with Iran, the UN International Atomic Energy Agency, in its latest report, made clear that Tehran ''was not even answering any of the questions of the IAEA.'' US and European diplomats have said the new sanctions proposals are expected to include a mandatory travel ban on Iranian officials involved in the nuclear programme and an expansion of the list of banned nuclear material and technology Iran may import and export.

Also under consideration is enlarging the list of Iranian officials whose assets were frozen in the December resolution.

But envoys said proposals for a total arms embargo would be dropped because of Russian objections, as would a ban on visas for students studying nuclear technology abroad.

Negotiators have also discussed restricting export credits provided by governments to companies doing business in Iran.

Washington has pushed for Europe to end such credits.

The United States has made clear it wants to get a second resolution quickly to keep up momentum in its diplomatic effort to persuade Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment work, which can provide fuel for power plants or for bombs.

On Friday, the president of the Security Council, Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, said he expected the 15-member body to have a draft this week.

Kumalo said the six powers were trying to include all 15 council members in discussions soon as compared with last year, when they talked only among themselves until shortly before the vote.

Reuters SRS VP0450